Page:History of Utah.djvu/349



CALIFORNIA-BOUND EMIGRANTS. 297

Among the causes that led to the prosperity of the people of Utah at this period was the migration of gold-seekers to California. Hundreds of emigrants, turning aside to Salt Lake City, wearied and dis- pirited, their cattle worn out and their wagons broken, were glad to exchange them, together with their tools, household furniture, and spare clothing, for provisions and pack animals at very low rates.^^ Many were glad to remain during winter, and work for their liveli- hood. Though reports were freely circulated to the contrary, there is sufficient evidence that as a rule they were kindly treated, and not a few abandoned their search for gold to cast in their lot with the saints.^^

The arrival in November of the first pack-mule train from California, laden with many luxuries and neces- sities, was an important event. The people formed in line, waiting hours for their turn to buy the limited amount allowed.^" When a sack of potatoes was

hourly, momentarily, rolling, piling, tumbling, and thundering upon us, you would at least conclude that there was no danger of our getting the gout from idleness or too much jollity.' Frontier Guardian, Sept. 18, 1850. Men- tion of cholera on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in the spring of 1849 is made by Brigham. 'Many Mormon brethren and sisters emigrating on those rivers died; 60 died going from St Louis to Kanesville, mostly from England and Wales, under Capt. Dan. Jones.' Hist. B. Young, MS., 1849, 85.

^^ Horses, harnesses, carriages, wagons, etc., were bought of eager emigrant? at one fifth of their cost in the states. Utah Early Uecords, MS., 113.

^* In the autumn of 1849 many emigrants, while resting in Salt Lake City, wrote letters to their friends, in which they acknowledged the kindness and hospitality shown them by the saints. Extracts from these letters were pub- lished in newspapers throughout the states. Gunnison, The Mormons, 65, says: ' Their many deeds of charity to the sick and broken-down gold-seekers all speak loudly in their favor, and must eventually redound to their praise. ' See also Kane's The Mormons, 76-7; Stansbury's Expedition to O. S. Lake, i. 134. In March 1851, numbers of emi,t;rants were baptized, and most of them remained in Utah. Id., 123. D. J. Staples, who remained at S. L. City for two or three weeks with a Boston party bound for California in 1849, says: 'The Mormons showed their kindness in every possible way, supplying all wants and taking care of the sick.' Incidents and Inform., in Cat., MS., D. 1-3. See also Van Dyke's Statement, in Id., 1. Among later instances may be mentioned that of John C. Fremont, who with nine white men and twelve Indians arrived at Parowan Jan. 7, 1854, in a starving condition. He was supplied with provisions and fresh animals, setting forth eastward on the 20th.

was allowed more than one pound of anything. Mrs Hornets Migrations, M
 * " Brown sugar was $1 a lb.; and everything else in proportion. No one